Clearly, steam baths played an important part in hygiene and religious ceremonies in many cultures especially before the advent of electricity. Today, thanks to technological developments in electric steam generation, it’s possible to produce a quick, steady supply of steam and to regulate the temperature within the bath. This has made steam baths viable not only in health clubs and hotels but also in private homes, where they appeal to harried families. After all, who has time to build an inipi, stoke a temazcalli, or go through the lengthy panchakarma ritual?

The first private residential steam baths started to appear in the United States during the 1950s. Since then, the personal steam bath has evolved to include custom-designed

and prefabricated steam showers. Aromatherapy oils have long been part of the experience, but advances in steam bath technology have led to these features: